Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 4.djvu/97

WEAVERS can hardly rank even as Soodras, or, if within that class, stand very low. They are termed Korreyas or Korees, and there are several divisions of them—Morwal, Bhomuneeya, Nigoorejal, &c. In the latter clan or division there once appeared a religions devotee or fukeer, who preached a doctrine of his own, made many converts, and died at Benares, where his tomb is still an object of reverence and pilgrimage. Korees eat meat and drink spnits, and are given to over indulgence in the latter. As a class they are not very reputable, but are not accused of habitual crimes or lawless conduct. They many in their own grade only, and are worshippers for the most part of Devi or Bhowani, with the addition of some demon worship, derived perhaps from their aboriginal condition. They always bury their dead. It is most probable they were partially converted to Hindooism by the Aryan invaders, and made slaves, as many other servile classes were, and from this condition they have never emerged. The figures in the Photograph are Korees or Kon-eyas; and it is not at all improbable that the word Koree is, in fact, Kolee, an aboriginal tribe reclaimed from their savage condition, some portions of which have become weavers, and are found practising that vocation in other parts of India. These Kolees, like the Korees, do not weave fine cloths; and in other respects their manner and condition of life have great similarity. On the other hand there are honourable classes of Hindoo weavers, much purer in caste, who are termed Joolaees, and are found all over India, which the Korees are not, but only in detached groups. The Joolaees are Sudras of good but not high grade. They rank perhaps next to Sudra Bunneas, and with dyers, and other artizans ; but some of them claim the rank of Vaisya, and are invested with the sacred cord. All these classes are weavers of fine goods, turbans, scarves, bodice pieces of silk, or cotton, or mixed fabrics; saris, or womens' cloths, and dhotees, or mens' waist cloths. They do not weave khadi, or coarse cahco, or soussi; that is the Avork of the Momeens, or lower castes of Hindoo Aveavers. They produce plain as well as coloured fabrics, and the manner in which they arrange their colours, and weave stripes and checks, with broad borders of figured silks, evince gi-eat practical knowledge of, and perfection in, their art.

To those interested in descriptions of Indian weaving, a work lately published by Dr. Forbes Watson, reporter upon Indian products to the Government of India, will afford much valuable and interesting information; and an inspection of the fabrics of Indian weavers, from the very finest to the coarsest qualities, as arranged in the India Museum by Dr. Watson, cannot fail to gratify every eye, as well from the chaste and harmonious arrangement of color as from the intrinsic worth and beauty of the fabrics. Many attempts at imitation of these fabrics for the Indian market have been made in England, and continue to be made; but the work of the Indian weaver cannot be equalled, much less surpassed. It is more chaste and harmonious in colour, the texture is more durable and better suited to the climate, and the colours